A CANDID DECLARATION OF THE CHURCH KNOWN BY THE NAME OF THE
UNITAS FRATRUM, RELATIVE TO THEIR LABOUR AMONG THE HEATHEN.

by M. Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg

(From: Daniel Benham, MEMOIRS OF JAMES HUTTON COMPRISING THE ANNALS
OF HIS LIFE, AND CONNECTION WITH THE UNITED BRETHREN [London:
Hamilton, Adams, 1856], 572-8 [Appendix II])

It is not our intention by this Declaration to give a detail
of that share of our labour among the Heathen, which the Lord hath
in this century, in a particular manner, entrusted to the care of
the Church of the Brethren.

We are manifest in the consciences of all those who are
friends of Jesus Christ and of his kingdom, and are well known to
the governments under which the Lord hath planted us. We can also
confidently appeal to the accounts which have been communicated to
the public with sincerity and uprightness, concerning the success
of our labour; and we hope to continue from time to time to publish
such accounts to the glory of God, and to the joy of all such as
wish prosperity to His kingdom. Least of all it is our intention
to demonstrate to the well-disposed and impartial public what a
kind of Church it is which is moved, yea, constrained, to make such
a Declaration as this.

The ancient Episcopal Church of the Brethren has not been
unknown either in former or in later times to this respectable
nation in general, and to the Government in particular; and we
hope, for the future, not to be found unworthy of the good
testimony, that the Brethren endeavour, through the grace of God,
to lead a quiet and peaceable life every where, in all godliness
and honesty, and to exert themselves to the utmost of their power
to live in peace with all men, and to prove a real benefit to every
place and country where they dwell.

The blessing of the Gospel, which our Lord has conferred upon
the Church of the Brethren in several parts of the world, and among
such a variety of nations and languages, for nearly forty /573/
years past, has been accompanied with many remarkable proofs of His
infinite grace, and has been distinguished, upon many occasions,
with the same striking effects as appeared in the early days of
Christianity. This manifest blessing of the Lord, as is well
known, gave occasion on the one hand to some to commend the labours
of the Brethren; but, on the other hand, it stirred up hatred and
envy against us, which, here and there, were attended with unjust
persecutions, or with an attempt to ruin our good name and
character by groundless and scandalous accusations, according to
the situation and principles of each of those people who made us
and our actions the objects of their censures. The greater part of
the latter sort, who made it their business to destroy our good
name, exerted themselves in publishing libels and virulent
pamphlets against us, though the persons who wrote neither knew us,
nor would give themselves the trouble to get any way acquainted
with our principles and practice, which, at least in some measure,
could have qualified them to form a right judgment of us. The
authors of these libels were commonly professed enemies of the
cross, and of the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus, and whose
leading principle in many instances, seems to have been merely the
love of filthy lucre, and frequently the only inducement to their
abject and wicked undertakings, was to get money from the public,
by the sale of their printed notorious falsehoods and forged and
perverted relations, in which they endeavoured to establish things
as historical facts, which had no other foundation but their own
malicious and unjust conclusions and imputations. Most of the said
libels abroad were sent into the world without a name, as the
authors were sensible that the regard for the Church of the ancient
Brethren, which had been esteemed as a house of the Lord some
centuries before, as well as since the great Reformation, would
expose the personal enmity those writers bore towards some
particular persons among the Brethren, not only to the censure of
sane worthy men, but even to the contempt of the public. This is,
however, the least and most insignificant circumstance which could
happen to us; for, in following Christ, we can expect nothing but
to be despised, reproached, and ill-treated by the world, as such;
it was the case of the Lord of Glory Himself, of His Apostles; yea,
and of all the witnesses of Jesus from the beginning to this day.
But what affected us more sensibly, and tended more to the
detriment of the Christian Church, was the opposition of some men
of consequence, who had their adherents and followers in the
Protestant denominations abroad, and whose envy and hatred were
provoked to hostilities by the approbation and praise given by
others to the work of God in the hands of the Brethren.

Soon after the last emigration of the Brethren out of Bohemia
and Moravia, many Lutheran divines took it for granted that the
Brethren would not only join themselves to the Lutheran
Constitution, /574/ but would be as it were entirely absorbed
therein; and, consequently, that their existence as a Church would
cease; but they perceived, and were at length convinced, that the
Brethren knew how to value their ancient Church-constitution and
privileges. The late Ordinary of the Church of the Brethren, and
some eminent divines, not of our pale, declared themselves for the
upholding and conservation of this ancient Church, and they
cautioned the Brethren earnestly not to suffer themselves to be
incorporated inconsiderately into any other religious constitution,
as they would probably find sufficient reason to repent when it
might be too late, of having taken such an unadvised step. At
last, when the abovementioned Lutheran divines, who would have
persuaded the Moravian and Bohemian Brethren to join the Lutheran
Church, saw that episcopal ordination was established in the
congregations of the Brethren in Germany, by means of the renowned
Reformed divines, D(aniel) E(rnest) Jablonsky, and Sitkovius, both
bishops of the ancient Church of the Brethren, it provoked some of
them, who were not well versed in the canon law, to take more upon
them than they had done before, and to declare against the
Brethren; and, at times, to step forth as bitter opposers.

Our public Declarations, that the doctrine of our Church was
diametrically opposite to that of absolute reprobation, excited
some Reformed divines to exceed all bounds of Christian deportment
towards us, so that as the former were stirred up against us on
account of episcopal ordination, the latter were less willing to
bear with us, than with other Protestant denominations, on account
of the aforesaid doctrinal tenet. Accordingly, both commenced a
controversy, and began to make it a common cause to act against the
Brethren to the utmost of their power; and, as is customary in most
controversies, this was carried on with great vehemence, and
accompanied with a multitude of absurd imputations and scurrilities
against us. These have been since propagated in the world,
repeated, and warmed up AD NAUSEAM USQUE, without paying the least
attention to what the Brethren had to say for themselves, or to
what they had answered with the greatest regard to decency and
truth. The Brethren bore this treatment as well as they could, but
were thereby thoroughly convinced of the real value of the jewel of
their own Church-constitution; and saw evidently to what bondage of
conscience they might have been exposed, even in those Protestant
constitutions, if our Saviour had not, in a remarkable manner, as
their faithful Shepherd, prevented it by His omnipotent hand, and
also inclined the hearts of the magistracy towards them, after they
had been obliged anew to endure various sufferings, oppressions,
and persecutions, some of which were severe indeed.

But to return to the proper aim of this Declaration, we will
barely recite the manner in which our opponents have treated /575/
us touching the conversion of the Heathen. As these, our
antagonists, were unwearied in their endeavours to render the
Brethren suspected every where, they even went so far as to tell
the public in their writings, that all that the Brethren had
related occasionally of their labours among the heathen, was
nothing but vain boasting, pretensions and fictions. But when
ocular demonstration, and the evidences of the grace of God among
the heathen, confuted these calumnies in the most effectual manner,
then our opponents had recourse to a new artifice, and began to
represent the labours of the Brethren as tending to the prejudice
of the public good; thus occasioning new lets and hindrances to the
work of our Lord. This method was first used abroad, and we were
necessitated, in the year 1740, to publish a declaration concerning
our labour among the heathen, according to which we have since been
judged and treated by persons of candour and understanding. But we
have, for some time past, observed, that even in England, some
writers have begun to represent us in the same odious light, being
misled by the aforesaid authors, without ever considering, whether
they had written truths or falsehoods, and have laid several things
to our charge which have not the least reference to us, but are
entirely contrary both to our principles and practice.

It is a matter of the greatest importance to us that the
Government and the whole nation, may not be pre-occupied with false
ideas, and thereby be prejudiced against innocent subjects, and
useful fellow-citizens of the English dominions. The most profound
respect for the Government, and esteem for the public, constrain us
to publish in English the same Declaration which has spoken in our
behalf for twenty-seven years past, in the consciences not only of
the Governors, but of every candid and impartial person in the
different countries abroad, where we are known and settled, and
this Declaration hath been the stronger evidence for us, as it has
appeared that our practice and conduct are every where conformable
to our words.

We are at present actually engaged in the ministry of the
Gospel among the Indians, in North America, as also among the
negroes in Jamaica, Antigua, and Barbadoes; and we must own that we
have been for several years desirous to publish the Gospel to the
heathen in several other West Indian islands, belonging to the
English Government. We own we also ventured, by the special
encouragement of his Majesty's Board of Trade and Plantations, to
get among the Esquimaux in Terra-Labrador; and as we are masters of
their language, by means of our mission in Greenland, we are still
willing to be serviceable to this very savage nation to the best of
our ability, by bringing the Gospel of peace among them. Our
missionaries at Tranquebar, on the coast of Coromandel, have from
thence visited some of the English settlements in the East Indies,
and we have certain advice /576/ that they have been kindly
received and encouraged by persons of distinction there, to apply
themselves to the conversion of the heathen in those parts. And
indeed, our general call to the service of the heathen in all
nations, does not allow us to be inattentive to any particular call
of that kind.

We grant that we cannot ensure the success of our
undertakings, nor can we be more answerable for the conduct of our
missionaries than were the Apostles of the Lord; or the Lord
Himself for His messengers; but in this case we have each to be
answerable for his own conduct in all circumstances which may
occur. Herein we have a heart full of confidence to our dear
Saviour; and as we know that such undertakings are attended with
numberless difficulties, hindrances, and seeming impossibilities,
especially at the first setting out, and are frequently undertaken
by unlearned men, and such instruments, whose appearance at first
does not speak much in their favour, it cannot be expected that the
progress always answers the most sanguine expectations. Yet, upon
the whole, we find the greater occasion to look with wonder and
gratitude at the good and blessed issue with which our good Lord
has been graciously pleased to crown our undertaking hitherto, and
which has been taken notice of by our superiors with much pleasure
and satisfaction. As our congregations are frequently excited to
render unfeigned thanks and praise to our gracious Lord for the
free access which He has granted us among the heathen nations; so,
we are also thankful to the high and benevolent promoters of this
great work of God, and entreat God our Saviour that He may
graciously remember them for their kind assistance, and grant them
an eternity of blessing.

By this, our public Declaration, we entreat with the most
sincere and Christian concern our dear Magistrates; yea, and all
our fellow Christians, for the Lord's sake, to continue their kind
patronage to the ministry of the Gospel among the heathen; to wish
us success and blessing in this important work; not to suffer any
to interrupt our labours, or to lay impediments in the way of our
missionaries, who, in the attempt itself, must always venture their
lives. And that this our request may find the more ready reception
in the minds of all men; and that every one who is desirous to be
as well acquainted with our principles and practice herein, as we
are among ourselves, we will not decline to give the public once
more an opportunity of getting a more clear insight into the nature
of our labour among the heathen, by publishing the following
concise points:

1. We never enter into controversy with any other
denomination, nor do we endeavour to draw their members over to us.

2. Much less do we attempt to win over to our Church any of
the heathen who are already in connection with those of any other
Church.
/577/3. Or, to stand in the way of the missionaries of any other
Church.

4. We are very attentive that the bond between the Government
and the heathen may not in the least suffer by means of Evangelical
tenets; should this moreover appear unavoidable in any place,
through the nature of things, and the particular circumstance of
the place, we should, in that case, rather choose to retire from
thence.

5. We never attempt, by means of our Missions, to obtain the
least influence in civil or commercial affairs; but are contented
with what we can earn by our industry in useful employments for our
support, to the satisfaction of the Government.

6. As to the rights of the Sovereign and the magistracy, we
require no further insight into them than to know what is
commanded, and what is prohibited, that we may act conformably
thereunto, as loyal and obedient subjects; least of all would we
act from any other principle than that of being, with our whole
heart, subject to those who have the rule over us, gladly exerting
ourselves to the uttermost to maintain the best understanding
between the Government and the converted heathen, which, in fact,
follows, of course -- desirous also to be as instrumental as
possible in establishing the same good principles, even among the
unconverted.

7. We carefully avoid intermeddling with anything that can
increase the wrong and prejudicial ideas, which the heathen savages
and slaves have imbibed against the Christian religion.

8. We confess and preach to the heathen Jesus Christ and Him
crucified, as the Saviour of the world, because there is no other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we can be saved, but the
name of Jesus Christ; and we seek, as far as in us lies, to keep
them ignorant of the many divisions in Christendom. But if they
happen to have been informed thereof, we endeavour, with great
precaution, to approve ourselves impartial, speak of the several
divisions with much tenderness, and seek to extenuate and not to
exaggerate the differences; that thus the knowledge of the mystery
of Christ may be increased, and misapprehensions diminished.

9. We endeavour to treat our opponents with love and
heartiness, and to erase out of the minds of the heathen all the
thoughts they may have concerning the hardships and oppression
under which our Brethren sometimes labour, and which often become
almost insupportable to the heathen themselves.

10. But as to the main point itself, namely, the conversion of
the heathen to Him who has made an atonement for the whole world
with His own blood; to Him to whom all Christians must yield, we
don't give way -- no not in the least; but stand fast upon the
foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, and with faith /578/ and
patience expect the constant aid and protection of our Lord and
Saviour, according to His promise. We beseech all men to look to
Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, and cannot
refrain from warning each with all faithfulness, lest, by
opposition, and trampling upon the seed of the glorious Gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ, he render himself unfortunate, and expose to
Divine judgment himself and those who belong to him.

Our duty to the public constrains us to make this solemn
Declaration, which we do accordingly herewith, and in the name of
our Lord, lay it before the impartial public in all simplicity and
love.

In the name of the Directors of the Missions of the Church of
the Brethren among the Heathen.